The traffic situation should be the least difficult subject on the curriculum when Southern Middle School opens its doors next fall.

Moore County Schools Maintenance Engineer John Hawthorne — who is also an Aberdeen town commissioner — told the Town Board of Commissioners at Thursday’s work session that the first two or three weeks of school may cause some traffic congestion, because parents will initially want to take their children to school themselves rather than rely on buses and carpools.

But access to the school — which is located on Mike’s Place — should be made easier by the two separate entrances with traffic lights, Hawthorne said. ne possible entrance and exit is the traffic light adjacent to Applebee’s Restaurant, at the corner of U.S. 1 and Magnolia Street. The other entrance with a traffic light is at the corner of U.S. 15-501 and Johnson Street, next to the Super China Buffet.

We talked to the N.C. Department of Transportation about the traffic pattern before the school was constructed,” Hawthorne said. “And the only concern they had was whether the roads (leading to the school) had a wide enough turning radius for school buses. But those roads are just as wide, if not wider, than any roads buses travel on throughout the county.

“You are going to see some personal vehicle traffic problems at any new school for the first two or three weeks, regardless, until they (parents) get used to the school and get their children back on the school buses. But then, things calm down after the first two or three weeks and the traffic pattern gets established.”

The school will encompass grades 6 through 8 and will draw students from Aberdeen, Southern Pines and Pinebluff. The school’s capacity is about 800 students.

Some concerns were raised at Thursday’s work session that the Aberdeen Police Department doesn’t have enough manpower to supervise traffic during school hours. Commissioner Pat Ann McMurray suggested that, since children from Southern Pines and Pinebluff will be attending the school, perhaps those municipalities should help provide police presence.

But Hawthorne reiterated that he thinks the traffic situation is such that it will not require police intervention. Nor does he believe that there will be the traffic problems suggested by some residents after school hours.

“The school doesn’t envision the problems that some other people are suggesting,” Hawthorne said. “There won’t be late-night ball games, and there aren’t lighted tennis courts. The school activities will take place from 3 p.m. until about 5:30 p.m.”

Other Business: McMurray suggested the appointment of Town Manager Tony Robertson to represent the town on the Moore County Economic Development Commission. The board voted in March to join the commission. One person represents each municipality — no matter the size or population of that municipality — and the respective municipality’s town council or board of commissioners handpicks the municipality’s representative.

However, the commissioners decided to table such a decision until it could be determined who represents other municipality members on the EDC.

Commissioner John Davenport said that he would like to consider more candidates for the job, including former Aberdeen commissioner Tim Helms.

“I don’t have anything against Tony (Robertson) doing it,” said Davenport. “But he’s already so busy and has so much on his plate. I’ve considered three candidates for the position myself, though I haven’t contacted them yet to see if they’d even be interested.”

Robertson advised the board that he would find out who represents the various municipalities on the EDC, and what duties those persons perform.

Aberdeen will become a member of the EDC effective July 1. The cost of $10,875 to join is based on a uniform charge of $3 per town resident. Aberdeen has a population of 3,625.